Automatic gas valve



Oct. 2 8, 1930. HULL ET AL 1,779,597

.AUTOMATIC GAS VALVE F d g- 5, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 28, 1930. H. B. HULL ET AL 1,779,597

AUTOMATI C GAS VALVE Fi e g- 5, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented a. 28, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRY B. HULL AND CLARENCE WARNER, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 FRIGIDAIRE CORPORATION, A CORPORATION on DELAWARE 7 AUTOMATIC GAS VALVE Application filed August 5, 1925. Serial No. 48,281.

The present invention relates to refrigerating systems of the absorption type which are applicable particularly for household purposes, in which the diflerent phases of operation automatically succeed one another in recurring cycles.

The system includes a generator and ab sorber means, and a condenser and evaporator means operatively connected together.

10 The generator and absorber means is adapted to be intermittently heated and intermittently cooled. During the heating phase of the means, when refrigerant is vaporized and conducted to the condenser, the con-r denser is subjected to a cooling medium to condense the vaporized refrigerant. One form of such system is described and claimed in the copending application of Harry B. Hull, Serial No. 48,280.filed August 5, 1925.

This application discloses a controller re-- sponsive to conditions 'in the system for caus-- ing cooling water to flow either into a duct for cooling the generator and absorber means or'into a vessel which will move downwardly under the weight of water therein to open a gas valve to furnishgas to a burner which heats the generator and absorber means.

One object of the present invention is to provide a gasburner controller having a vessel and a valve which is opened in re sponse to the accumulation of a certain weight of Water in the vessel, and which is closed after the flow of water into the vessel ceases, the vessel having a small drain cape so that the burner valve may be closed automatically, for example, bya spring. A further object is to provide a pilot burner to; light the main gas burnei, and to control the flow of gas to the pil burner by a valve whichremains open while the pilot flame continues but which will close automatically if the pilot flame should cease, so that escape of gas to the main burner and pilot burnerwill be prevented.-

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to 60 the accompanyingdrawings, wherein a pre-- passage permitting the water therein to esferredform of the present invention is clearly shown. I

In the drawings:

Fig. 1' is a diagrammatic view of the improved refrigerating system;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View of the gas valve taken on a vertical plane parallel to the plane of Fig.1; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a generator-absorber 20'containin'g an absorbent 21. 1 A cooling device for the absorbent in-' cludes a coil 22 submerged in the absorbent and adapted to contain a cooling medium. A heatin device for the generator-absorber 20 inclu es a gas burner 23 which is controlled by the gas valve 24. The generatorabsorber 20 is arranged to be intermittently heated by the heating device and intermittently cooled by the cooling device, and these "phases of operation are automatically controlled by a controller 25 whereby the system 1s operated in recurring cycles. During the heatlng phase of the'generator-absorber 20,

.vaporized' refrigerant is conducted through a dehydrator 27 comprising two parallel coils 28 and '29 and through a non-return valve 30, pipe 31, to a condenser 32 comprising a coil which is contained in a tank 33 containing a cooling medium 34. .The condensed refrigerant is conducted through a pipe 35 to the cooling unit 37. The cooling unit, includes a header 38, which receives the condensed refrigerant and from 'which is suspended a brine tank 39. Brine tank 39 re-. ceives'.an-ice-tray sleeve 40 for an ice tray.

' During the cooling phase of the generatorabsorber 20, vaporized refrigerant is conducted from the container 38 through pipe 35,

condenser 32, pipe 31, a non-return valve 43, and pipe 44, which pipe has its outlet, including a plurality of orifices 45, located below the level of absorbent within the generatorabsorber. A conduit 47 is connected between .the container 38 and the generatomabsorber 7 20 and has its inlet 48 located at a relatively lowle'vel within the container38. This conduit is utilized for conducting "absorbent, which iscarried from the generator absorher to the container 38 with the vaporized refrigerant, to the generator-absorber. A valve 49 is included in conduit 47 and controls the flow of absorbent therethrou h in accordance with the pressure within' the refrigerating system.

A water pipe 61 conveys water to the container 33, the water passing through a valve 62 which is controlled by a float 63. The outlet of the tank 33 is connected adjacent its lower end with a pipe 65. The tank 33 is connected with an overflow pipe 66 through which water may flow in case the valve 62 does not function correctly and permits the excessive amount of water to flow from the tank 33.

The controller 25 for intermittently operating the heating burner 23, and intermittently operating the cooling device 22, in-

cludes. a receptacle 71 having two compart ments 72 and 73 separated from one another bya wall 74. The end of pipe 65, leading from the condenser tank 33, is carried by the receptacle 71, and water is adapted to flow from the tank 33 through the pipe 65 to either compartment 72 or 73. The controller 25 includes a movable baflie 170 which, when in the full line position will allow water to flow into compartment 73, and which, when moved into the dotted line position 170 will cause water to flow into the compartment 72. Water from the compartment 72 flows by way of pipe 76 to the cooling coil 22, which in turn is connected through a pipe 77 with a drain pipe 78, the water flowing from the pipe 77 into a funnel-shaped member 79 which is connected with a drain pipe 78. Therefore, when .water flows into compartment 72 of receptacle 71, the cooling device for the generator-absorber will be rendered operable- When water flows into compartment 73 of receptacle 71, it will be conducted by a pipe 80 into a movable receptacle 81. The downward movement of the receptacle 81 will cause the gas valve 24 to be actuated to permit gas to flow to the burner 23. Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the gas valve 24 includes a body 82 having a horizontally-disposed chamber 83 which 1s connected with the gas inlet pipe 84.- A vertically-disposed chamber 85 is connected with the main gas chamber 83 through a passage 86. This passage is controlled by a needle valve 87. The valve body 82 includes a yoke portion 88 carrying an adustable plug 89. A spring 90 is interposed between the plug and the needle valve 87 and 4 normally tends to. maintain the valve in positlon to close intercommunication between the chamber 83 and the chamber 85. The burner Plate 92 is provided with an car 94 which carries a bimetal thermostatic strip 95 including metals having different coefiicients of expansion. The valve body 82, the gasket 93 and the plate 92 are provided with an aligned passage 97 which connects with the vertically-disposed chamber 85. This passage is controlled by an adjustable needle valve 98. Gas can flow from the chamber 83, through the passage 86, chamber 85 and chamber 97 when the needle Valve 98 is open. The gas flowing through this passage is burned underneath the car 94 and maintains same heated, and flame provides a pilot for the burner 23. A hand-operated lever 100 having a handle 101 and a bifurcated portion 102 is pivotally mounted on the valve body 82. An car 103 formed by the valve body, forms a fulcrum for the lever 100. A pin 104 is secured to needle valve 87, upon which the prongs of the bifurcated member 102 are carried. A latch 105 is attached by a screw 106 to the lever 100, the screw pasing'through a notch in latch 105 to permit adjustment thereof. The end of the bimetal strip 95 carries a latch member 107 adapted to cooperate with the latch 105 whereby to hold the lever in such a position that the valve 87 is open. The heat of the pilot light which is directly against the car 94, is conducted to the bimetal strip 95 and as long as the pilot light is burning, the bimetal strip will assume such a position as to maintain the latch member 107 in engagement with the latch 105, whereby to maintain the gas valve 87 open. If for some cause or other, no gas enters the chamber 83, the pilot light will be extinguished. When the pilot light is extinguished, the bimetal strip 95 will cool and move upwardly, whereby the latch member 107 will move away from the latch 105 and the spring acting upon the needle valve 87 will move the said valve to close the passage between chamber 83 and chamber 85. In this manner, should the gas be turned on, it will not be permitted to escape.

The vertically-disposed gas chamber 85 is connected with a passage 110, which in turn is connected with a horizontal passage 111. The flow of gas through the passage 110 is controlled by a needle valve 112. Passage 111 leads to a mixing chamber 113 connecting to atmosphere at 114. Valve body 82 is provided wlth a yoke 115 carrying a screwthreaded plug 116. A spring 117 is disposed between the head of plug 116 and the head of needle valve 112, and normally tends to hold the valve in position to close communication between the gas chamber 85 and passage 111. The sides of yoke portion 88 carry a pin 118 on which a lever 119 is pivotally mounted. One end of the lever 119 is connected with the valve 112 while the other end carries the movable receptacle 81.

When receptacle 81 contains a predeterr mined quantity of water, it will overcome the resistance offered by spring 117 and move valve 112 to such position as to estab-- with a hollow boss 120, which is screwthreaded to receive a pipe 121. This pipe extends upwardly within the container 81 and above the lever which is necessary to provide for opening the valve 112. Pipe 121 provides an overflow for the receptacle 81, and the water flowing through this pipe passes into a funnel-shaped member 122 connected with the drain pipe 78.- The top 123' of receptacle 81 is provided, with an air opening 124 to receive pipe 80,

Thus it will be seen that water-flowing into the compartment 73 of receptacle 71 will flow through the pipe 80 into receptacle 81, and when a predetermined quantity of water is contained within this receptacle, \valve 112 will be actuated to permit the flow of gas from the chamber 85 ,to the mixing chamber 113. This gas within themixing chamber 113 will flow into the burner 23- and will be ignited by the pilot light, which in turn will heat the absorbent and refrigerant within thegenerator-absorber. A stud 125 carried by the valve body 82- lies in the path of movement of lever 119 and limits the downward movement of said lever 119 and container 81. The pipe 121 within the container 81 is provided with a re stricted openin 126 for draining the container 81 where y when water ceases to flow through the compartment 73, water may drain from the container 81. After a predetermined quantity of water is drained from the container 81, the spring 117 will overcome the weight of the" water within the container 81 and rotate the lever 119 to close the valve 112, thus stopping the flow of gas through the burner. The passage 126 in the pipe 121 is-located adjacent the bottom of the container 81, and'the size; of this passage can be increased or decreased, as is necessary, by screwing the p'pe 121 upwardly or downwardly, respectively.

i While the form of embodiment of the present invention as 'herein'disclosed, con- Vfor holding the valve open as long as there is burner.

a flame at either burner, and means for closing the valve when there is a flame at neither 2. A burner controller comprisingin combination, a duct for supplying fuel to a main burner, aduct for supplying fuel to apilot burner, a valve controlling the passage of fuel through the main burner duct only, amovable container connected to "the valve and adapted .to receive liquid, the container being adapted to open the valve when the quantity of liquid exceeds a predetermined amount, means for closing the valve when the quantity of liquid diminishes below a predetermined amount, a master valve controlling the passage of fuel through both ducts, and means for holding the master valve'open .as long as there is a flame at either burner and for closing the master valve when there is a flame at neither burner.

3. Heating controller comprising, in combination, a conduit for supplying heating medium, controlling means adapted to permit and prevent passage of heating medium through the conduit, a liquidcirculat ing system, a movable'container adapted to receive liquid from said system, the position of the container being responsive to the amount of liquid therein, means permittingthe liquid to flow from the container, and means for operatin the controlling means in accordance wit the position of thecontainer to permit assage of heating medium only when liquid ows, to the container.

4. A burnercontroller comprising in combination, a valve for permitting and prevent ing passage of fuel to the burner, a liquid circulating system, a movable container adapted to receive liquid from the system,

the position of the container being responsive .with the position of the container.

5. Apparatus of the character described,

comprising in combination means to be alter- I nately heated and cooled; heating means; cooling means; means for circulating cooling liquid continuously; means for alternately directing liquid to the cooling means and diverting it fromthe cooling means and a heating controller for the means to be heated and cooled including a conduit for supplying heating medium, controlling means adapted to permit and prevent passage of heating medium through the conduit, a movable container adapted to receive liquid diverted from the cooling means, the position of the container-being responsive to the amount of liquid therein, means permitting liquid to flow from the container, and means for operating the controlling means in accordance with the position of the container.

6. Apparatus of the character described, comprisingin combination a device to be al- 'ternately heated and cooled, means for circulating cooling water continuously, means for alternately directing the cooling water in heat exchange relation with the device and for diverting the cooling water therefrom, a conduit for supplying heating medium to the device, control means for preventingor permitting the flow of heating medium through the conduit, a movable tank adapted to receive water when diverted from the device, the position of the container being responsive to the amount of water therein, a large capacity drain in the container to limit the quantity of liquid therein, a small capacity drain below the level of the first drain for emptying the container when no Water flows thereto, and means for actuating the control means in response to the position of the container.

In testimony whereof we hereto affix our I signatures.

HARRY B. HULL. CLARENCE WARNER. 

